In Jainism, the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) is central. Jains strive to minimize harm to all living beings. Keeping pets is not explicitly prohibited, but it raises ethical concerns:

• Feeding Pets: Many common pets, such as cats and dogs, are carnivorous and require a diet that involves harm to other animals. This goes against the Jain principle of non-violence.
• Captivity: Keeping an animal as a pet may be seen as restricting its freedom, which can be considered a form of himsa (violence).
• Care and Responsibility: If a Jain chooses to care for an animal (for example, by adopting a stray to protect it from harm), they are encouraged to do so with utmost compassion, providing vegetarian food if possible and ensuring the animal's well-being.

In practice, strict Jains generally avoid keeping pets, especially those that require a non-vegetarian diet. However, some may care for animals out of compassion, always striving to minimize harm and uphold the core value of ahimsa.

For household animals that are herbivorous (like cows, goats, or birds), the ethical concerns are less, provided they are cared for properly and not exploited.

In summary, Jainism does not have a strict rule against keeping pets, but it strongly emphasizes non-violence, compassion, and minimizing harm, which influence individual choices regarding pets.